North Kingstown High School was rebuilt approximately six years ago. It is a three floor school with four stair cases. It is located at 150 Fairway Drive in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. It's minutes away from the very popular Jitter's cafe, where all the teachers and students stop by school. It is also just minutes away from gas stations and the little historic town of Wickford. North Kingstown High has two large student parking lots as well as a teacher lot. This school has tennis courts, a outdoor track, a stadium, and practice fields for sports. Inside the school there is a large cafeteria with a teacher lounge,
two indoor gyms, a theater/auditorium, communication room, band room, and a ceramic room. The seniors have a privilege of eating lunch outside in the court yard, the court yard is completely surrounded by the school. Students at this school are not only eager to learn, but love to engage in sports in addition to the parents being very involved with the school board and events.
Rhode Island State Flag
Rhode Island State Flag
North Kingstown is the red area.
Community Background
Rhode Island also known as the Ocean State is surrounded by Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. It also was the 13th founded state in what is now known as the United States of America. North Kingstown has 44 square miles of land area while Rhode Island has 1,044 square miles of land area (City Town Info 2007). The average household size in North Kingstown is 2.5 whereas the family size is 3.1. In North Kingstown there are approximately 255,495 owned houses (City Town Info 2007). North Kingstown has a population of 26,326 compared to Rhode Island with 1,067,610 people (City Town Info 2007). There are 25,196 white people while there is 256 black, 145 Native Americans, and 251 Asians in North Kingstown (City Town Info 2007). The median income for this area is $60,027 this is above the state average of $42,090 (City Town Info 2007). Of these families 5.8 percent is in the poverty level which is lower than the state average of 8.9 percent (City Town Info 2007). North Kingstown has a low crime rate of 118 crimes a year including rapes, assaults, burglaries, thefts, and auto thefts (City Town Info 2007). Pre student the state pays $11,455 and the state total is $51, 189, 796 (RI Department of Education 2006).
District Summary
Students in the North Kingstown district are eager to learn and the state and school helps the students excel. Governor Carcieri recently provided the state with 3.5 million dollars for professional development. The state also provides 300,000 dollars for statewide curriculum in math and English. There is 500,000 dollars that goes towards math and science specialists (RI Department of Education 2007). North Kingstown High requires students to have a minimum of 20 credits, 4 in math and English and 3 and science. Students also must participate in state testing for English, math, and science. The students at North Kingstown must also come up with a Learning Plan, which is a plan for their future. Being proficient in all 6 core content areas including critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and a few others is also a must for students (McWalters 2005). The student teach ratio at North Kingstown is 1 to 14, which is a a great ratio as students will get needed attention. At North Kingstown High 6% of special education students are self contained while 12% are in general education with supporters. North Kingstown High school provides bus transportation for the school for students who live not in walking distance which would be a mile from the school (RI Department of Education 2006).
School Analysis
At North Kingstown High school the principal is Gerald Foley and the assistant principal is John Lalley. According to learning and achievement tests North Kingstown High School scored above the state average in the mathematical and verbal SAT scores (RI Department of Education 2006). The math SAT mean score for North Kingstown for 2007 is 530 where the state mean is 483 (City Town Info 2007). For the verbal North Kingstown's mean SAT score is 525 where as the state is 478. The suspension rate is at 23% per 100, students were suspended for alcohol, disrespect, fighting, disorderly conduct, leaving school grounds, and skipping classes.Regarding the safety of North Kingstown High School students, the majority of responses from students on the SALT survey felt pretty safe and compared to the state North Kingstown has higher percentages that feel safe (RI Department of Education 2006). At North Kingstown High School there is 1549 students and 114 teachers, this would give the school a 1 to 14 teacher student ratio which is about at the state average as well. For the past years the school has kept up with the reading and math proficiency state tests making them high performing and commended (State School Officers 2006). North Kingstown has a high graduation rate being 97% while the state average is 85%(City Town Info 2007) .
It is important for the parents to interact with the teachers, parents feel that more than half the time teachers respond to their concerns. Also more than half of teachers feel they have a good parent relationship with their students (RI Department of Education 2006). North Kingstown High school has a low number of ESL students, 65 to be exact and they are at 42% proficiencies. There are only 12% of students that receive free or reduced lunch so that would make one believe that North Kingstown has a low poverty level. 97% of students at North Kingstown High school are white and there is only 3% that are African American, Asian, Hispanic, and Native Americans (State School Officers 2006). North Kingstown High school provides a large variety of extra curricular activities including team sports, clubs, and organizations. Wrestling, football, softball, swimming, cheerleading, golf, drama club, law enforcement club, academic clubs, gay/straight alliance and many more (NKSD 2007).
Conclusion
To conclude one would find that North Kingstown as well as the school system is a good place to bring a child up. Although the student teacher ratio is about at average the teachers in the school are committed to being sure that all students understand what they are being taught. Teachers from North Kingstown High School have been voted as teacher of the year on more than one occasion as well teachers offer their time after school hours for students who need the extra help. The graduation rate is very close to 100% which is important to know that the other students your child go to school with are just as ambitious. The state testing scores show how school is doing a great job keeping the students on par with the standards. Having low crime is a comforting thing knowing your child is safe even while you are not with them. However just like with any school North Kingstown has problems too, students being suspended for cutting class or alcohol, but this shouldn't cause a huge issue because they seem to have it under control. At North Kingstown High School the mission statement in which the school follows precisely states, "The mission of the North Kingstown High School Community is to provide our young adults a learning environment, both physically and philosophically, that fosters their growth as students, citizens, and individuals through opportunity, accountability, encouragement and security" (NKSD 2007). Subsequent to researching about North Kingstown High School one would find that it would be a pleasure to send a son or daughter to this school.
Title: North Kingstown
Introduction
North Kingstown High School was rebuilt approximately six years ago. It is a three floor school with four stair cases. It is located at 150 Fairway Drive in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. It's minutes away from the very popular Jitter's cafe, where all the teachers and students stop by school. It is also just minutes away from gas stations and the little historic town of Wickford. North Kingstown High has two large student parking lots as well as a teacher lot. This school has tennis courts, a outdoor track, a stadium, and practice fields for sports. Inside the school there is a large cafeteria with a teacher lounge,two indoor gyms, a theater/auditorium, communication room, band room, and a ceramic room. The seniors have a privilege of eating lunch outside in the court yard, the court yard is completely surrounded by the school. Students at this school are not only eager to learn, but love to engage in sports in addition to the parents being very involved with the school board and events.
Community Background
Rhode Island also known as the Ocean State is surrounded by Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. It also was the 13th founded state in what is now known as the United States of America. North Kingstown has 44 square miles of land area while Rhode Island has 1,044 square miles of land area (City Town Info 2007). The average household size in North Kingstown is 2.5 whereas the family size is 3.1. In North Kingstown there are approximately 255,495 owned houses (City Town Info 2007). North Kingstown has a population of 26,326 compared to Rhode Island with 1,067,610 people (City Town Info 2007). There are 25,196 white people while there is 256 black, 145 Native Americans, and 251 Asians in North Kingstown (City Town Info 2007). The median income for this area is $60,027 this is above the state average of $42,090 (City Town Info 2007). Of these families 5.8 percent is in the poverty level which is lower than the state average of 8.9 percent (City Town Info 2007). North Kingstown has a low crime rate of 118 crimes a year including rapes, assaults, burglaries, thefts, and auto thefts (City Town Info 2007). Pre student the state pays $11,455 and the state total is $51, 189, 796 (RI Department of Education 2006).District Summary
Students in the North Kingstown district are eager to learn and the state and school helps the students excel. Governor Carcieri recently provided the state with 3.5 million dollars for professional development. The state also provides 300,000 dollars for statewide curriculum in math and English. There is 500,000 dollars that goes towards math and science specialists (RI Department of Education 2007). North Kingstown High requires students to have a minimum of 20 credits, 4 in math and English and 3 and science. Students also must participate in state testing for English, math, and science. The students at North Kingstown must also come up with a Learning Plan, which is a plan for their future. Being proficient in all 6 core content areas including critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and a few others is also a must for students (McWalters 2005). The student teach ratio at North Kingstown is 1 to 14, which is a a great ratio as students will get needed attention. At North Kingstown High 6% of special education students are self contained while 12% are in general education with supporters. North Kingstown High school provides bus transportation for the school for students who live not in walking distance which would be a mile from the school (RI Department of Education 2006).School Analysis
At North Kingstown High school the principal is Gerald Foley and the assistant principal is John Lalley. According to learning and achievement tests North Kingstown High School scored above the state average in the mathematical and verbal SAT scores (RI Department of Education 2006). The math SAT mean score for North Kingstown for 2007 is 530 where the state mean is 483 (City Town Info 2007). For the verbal North Kingstown's mean SAT score is 525 where as the state is 478. The suspension rate is at 23% per 100, students were suspended for alcohol, disrespect, fighting, disorderly conduct, leaving school grounds, and skipping classes.Regarding the safety of North Kingstown High School students, the majority of responses from students on the SALT survey felt pretty safe and compared to the state North Kingstown has higher percentages that feel safe (RI Department of Education 2006). At North Kingstown High School there is 1549 students and 114 teachers, this would give the school a 1 to 14 teacher student ratio which is about at the state average as well. For the past years the school has kept up with the reading and math proficiency state tests making them high performing and commended (State School Officers 2006). North Kingstown has a high graduation rate being 97% while the state average is 85%(City Town Info 2007) .It is important for the parents to interact with the teachers, parents feel that more than half the time teachers respond to their concerns. Also more than half of teachers feel they have a good parent relationship with their students (RI Department of Education 2006). North Kingstown High school has a low number of ESL students, 65 to be exact and they are at 42% proficiencies. There are only 12% of students that receive free or reduced lunch so that would make one believe that North Kingstown has a low poverty level. 97% of students at North Kingstown High school are white and there is only 3% that are African American, Asian, Hispanic, and Native Americans (State School Officers 2006). North Kingstown High school provides a large variety of extra curricular activities including team sports, clubs, and organizations. Wrestling, football, softball, swimming, cheerleading, golf, drama club, law enforcement club, academic clubs, gay/straight alliance and many more (NKSD 2007).
Conclusion
To conclude one would find that North Kingstown as well as the school system is a good place to bring a child up. Although the student teacher ratio is about at average the teachers in the school are committed to being sure that all students understand what they are being taught. Teachers from North Kingstown High School have been voted as teacher of the year on more than one occasion as well teachers offer their time after school hours for students who need the extra help. The graduation rate is very close to 100% which is important to know that the other students your child go to school with are just as ambitious. The state testing scores show how school is doing a great job keeping the students on par with the standards. Having low crime is a comforting thing knowing your child is safe even while you are not with them. However just like with any school North Kingstown has problems too, students being suspended for cutting class or alcohol, but this shouldn't cause a huge issue because they seem to have it under control. At North Kingstown High School the mission statement in which the school follows precisely states, "The mission of the North Kingstown High School Community is to provide our young adults a learning environment, both physically and philosophically, that fosters their growth as students, citizens, and individuals through opportunity, accountability, encouragement and security" (NKSD 2007). Subsequent to researching about North Kingstown High School one would find that it would be a pleasure to send a son or daughter to this school.References
City Town Info, (2007). North Kingstown RI. Retrieved October 18, 2007, from City Town Info Web site: http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/rhode-island/north-kingstown
City Town Info, (2007). NK Senior High School. Retrieved October 18, 2007, from Info Works Web site: http://www.infoworks.ride.uri.edu/1998/pdf/S23108.PDF
Mcwalters, P (2005). RI High School Diploma System. Retrieved October 18, 2007, Web site: http://www.ride.ri.gov/HighSchoolReform/DOCS/PDFs/HIGH%20school%20reform/HSDiploma_v071405.pdf
NKSD, (2007). NKHS - Sports. Retrieved October 18, 2007, from NKHS Web site:
http://www2.nksd.net/education/sportszone/default.php?sectiondetailid=154&sc_id=1192717643&PHPSESSID=b7b297e68bbe3c0d598519114a59b43b
NKSD, (2007). NKHS. Retrieved October 18, 2007, from NKSD Web site: http://www2.nksd.net/education/school/school.php?sectiondetailid=144&sc_id=1192733055
RI Department of Education, (2007). North Kingstown District. Retrieved October 18, 2007, from Equity and Adequacy of Resources: Per Pupil Expenditures Web site: http://infoworks.ride.uri.edu/2007/pdf/ds-insite-bar/23d-expb.pdf
RI Department of Education, (2006). Using Information. Retrieved October 18, 2007, from Info Works Web site: http://infoworks.ride.uri.edu/2007/pdf/usinginfo/23108H-info.pdf
RI Department of Education, (2006). Information Works. Retrieved October 17, 2007, from Learning & Achievement: Assesments Web site: http://infoworks.ride.uri.edu/2007/pdf/achievement/23108H-achi.pdf
RI Department of Education, (2006). Information Works. Retrieved October 17, 2007, from Safe and Supportive Schools Web site: http://infoworks.ride.uri.edu/2007/state/pov-high.pdf
RI Department of Education, (2006). Information Works. Retrieved October 17, 2007, from Engaging Families and Communities Web site: http://infoworks.ride.uri.edu/2007/state/engagingfamilies-high.pdf
State School Officers, (2006). School Data Direct. Retrieved October 17, 2007, from North Kingstown High School Web site: http://www.schoolmatters.com/app/location/q/stid=40/llid=118/stllid=247/locid=993896/stype=/catid=-1/secid=-1/compid=-1/site=pes
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